Apparatus for withdrawal from tobacco habit



Sept 24, 1968 l.. L. BLOUNT ETAL 3,402,724

APPARATUS FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM TOBACCO HABIT Filed Oct. 2l, 1965 ci/f[ESTERLLou/vr [Eo/MRD l. T11/@MAS INVENTORS rraklvfy United StatesPatent O 3,402,724 APPARATUS FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM TOBACCO HABIT Lester L.Blount, 15012 Midway Place, Midway City, Calif. 92655, and Leonard L.Thomas, 11452 .lola Ave., Garden Grove, Calif. 92640 Filed Oct. 21,1965, Ser. No. 499,266 3 Claims. (Cl. 131-198) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Disclosed herein is a smoking device (cigarette o-r cigarholder or pipe stem) embodying a receptacle for drawing smoke from abody of burning tobacco at one end thereof; a mouth-piece at itsopposite end; an intermediate tubular barrel; an air inlet ring betweenthe opposed ends of the barrel and receptacle; and core means includinga body of plug form mounted in the barrel and having an axial smokespeed-up passage, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced prongsprojecting through the air inlet ring and into the receptacle andsupporting the ring and the receptacle from the barrel, and including abarrier hcad axially opposed and adjacent to the downstream end of thesmoke speed-up passage, for collecting tar from smoke drawn through thepassage.

This invention relates to the treatment of the tobacco smoking habit bysmokers who desire to discontinue the habit. The general object of theinvention is to provide means whereby a smoker, in a series ofsuccessive stages of continued smoking, can gradually withdraw from thehabit-sustaining influence of the smoke being inhaled from a cigarette,cigar or pipe. A corrollary object is to provide a kit consisting of acigarette or cigar holder or pipe stem and a series of replacement partsfor sequentially adjusting the device for successively increasedpercentage of removal of tars from the smoke. We have found that asmoker can endure the gradual reduction in the tar-content of the smokebeing inhaled by him, provided that the adjustment is spread over aperiod of several weeks, and we have also discovered that by thusgradually adjusting the tar content to successively lower percentages,the overpowering desire for continued smoking, which normally sustainsthe habit, is eventually dissipated, and finally the smoker can quit hissmoking without any resulting feeling of discomfort or uneasiness ordesire for continued smoking.

With the foregoing in view, the invention provides apparatus for use bya smoker wherein:

1) In successive stages, the smoke being inhaled is diluted by smallquantities of air in a successively increasing ratio of air to smoke;

(2) In the successive stages, an increasing percentage of tar is removedfrom the smoke being inhaled;

(3) A smoking implement is provided, having means for admitting a smallquantity of air into the smoke stream being drawn through the implement;

(4) A succession of air-admission parts are provided, for successivereplacement installation in the smoking implement;

(5) The replacement parts and the remainder of the smoking implement areso constructed and correlated that replacement can be easily and quicklyeffected.

These and other objects will become apparent in the ensuingspecifications and appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of a cigarette holder embodying theinvention in one form;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;showing a first-stage air-admission collar;

Patented Sept. 24, 1968 ice FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken inthe same plane as FIG. 2, showing a subsequent-stage air-admissioncollar replacing the one shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a later-stage replacementair-admission collar;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a final-stage air-admissioncollar;

FIG. 6 is an axial sectional View of a modified form of the smokingimplement;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the implement of FIG. 6 taken on theline 7-7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of a modified portion ofthe implement of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the implement shown in FIG. 8, takenon the line 9 9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary axial sectional View of a variation of themodified portion shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 1l is a fragmentary axial sectional view of another variation ofthe modified portion shown in FIG. 8.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawing, I have shown therein, as anexample of one form in which the invention may be embodied, a holder fora cigarette A, comprising a barrel B substantially enclosing andsupporting a core C, a receptacle sleeve D releasa-bly supported on theforward end of core C, and a control collar E encircling said forwardend of core C and interposed snugly between the forward end of barrel Band the rear end of holder sleeve D.

Barrel B comprises a cylindrical body 15 and a stem 16 having a draftaperture 17 at one end. Body 15 has a counterbore 18 terminating at anannular shoulder 19, from which a reduced diameter smoke passage extendsrearwardly through stem 16.

Core C has a body 21 of plug form with a cylindrical periphery fittedsnugly but removably in barrel bore 18, an integral annular radialflange 22 abutting the forward end of barrel body 15 to position thecore C within the barrel, a quartered segmental forward end portionconstituting four prongs 23 extending into and releasably supporting theholder sleeve D, and a tail 24 extending rearwardly to shoulder 19 andterminating in a conical end 25. Tail 25 is radially spaced from thewall of counterbore 18, defining an annular cylindrical tar-collectionchamber 26 terminating at shoulder 19, which is spaced from tail end 25so as to define an annular passage between chamber 26 and the smokepassage in stern 16.

Core body 21 has an axial conduit 30 terminating at its rear end in arestricted smoke speed-up passage 31 which communicates with the centerof a diametral crossbore 32 the ends of which communicate withtar-collection chamber 26. The forward end of conduit 30 communicateswith the space within and between the four segmental fingers 23. Fingers23 are tapered to define a conical bell-mouth 34 communicatingsubstantially fulldiameter with the rear end of a cigarette A insertedinto holder sleeve D, so as to direct smoke into conduit 30.

Restricted passage 31 is in a range embracing about .028 inch indiameter. Cross bore 32 may be of the same or somewhat larger diameter,providing (in its two portions branching in opposite directions fromrestricted passage 31) it has an aggregate fiow area at least twice thatof passage 31. Passage 31 thus acts as restricted throat to acceleratethe flow rate of the smoke to high speed such that tars are precipitatedagainst the wall of cross bore 32 as the flow rate drops therein.Precipitated tars will drip into chamber 26 and will collect there.

Precipitation of tar is increased by cooling the smoke as it enters theconduit 30, and is controlled by varying the cooling effect. This isaccomplished by use of the series of control collars E, E1, E2, E3 andE4 shown in FIGS. respectively. Collar E1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) has a singleair inlet port 40 extending radially therethrough and arranged tocommunicate with conduit 30 through one of the slots 33. Collar E2 (FIG.3) is provided with two inlet ports 40, positioned (e.g., 90 apart) tocommunicate respectively with two of the slots 33. Conduits E3 and E4(FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively) are provided with three and four inletports respectively, positioned to cornmunicate with three and four slots33 respectively, all as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 respectively.

In using the holder, the smoker starts with a first control collar whichprovides no cooling effect, and the smoke passes through the holder at arelatively high temperature. The smoking experience derived from the useof the holder in the closed condition provided by this collar, iscomparable to that of conventional smoking.

After using the holder for a few days, the smoker removes holder sleeveD and the first collar from support fingers 23, and upon reassembly, hesubstitutes collar E1 for the rst collar. Collar E1 admits a smallquantity of air through its port 40 and through the registering slot 33into conduit 30, thus slightly cooling the smoke entering restrictedpassage 31. A somewhat greater percentage of tar is precipitated fromsuch cooler smoke, and the smoke entering the smokers lungs produces acorrespondingly milder sensation. A stage of smoking under this adjustedcondition is continued for a period of from three days to a week, untilthe smoking sensation being derived from this stage is completelysatisfying. Then the smoker removes the collar E1 and substitutes collarE2. Twice as much air is then admitted and the cooling effect iscorrespondingly increased. Tar removal is again increased, andadditional mildness is imparted to the smoke. Again the smoker uses theholder under the adjusted conditions for a period of from several daysto a week, until all craving for the more sharply sensational smoking offormer stages has disappeared. The smoker then again adjusts the holderfor use of the three-port collar E3, uses the holder as thus adjusted,for a period of time such as to again develop a satisfied reaction tothe sensation of further mildness derived during this period. He thengoes on to use the holder with the final control collar E4, which causesthe holder to deliver smoke which is substantially bland. After afurther period of use of the holder as thus adjusted, he may bephysiologically conditioned for quitting the smoking habit with aslittle effort as was involved in adjusting the holder from one controlcollar to the next in the series.

In order that the tar removal may be controlled while maintaining asatisfactory concentration of smoke without excessive dilution by theadmitted air, the ratio between the air inlet port diameter and thediameter of restricted passage 31 must be substantially a 2:3 ratio. Forexample, where the diameter of passage 31 is .028 as stated previously,the diameter of each air inlet port 40 is .018, the ratio beingapproximately .643. This establishes the ratio of cooling air to smokein the mixture passing through the restricted passage 31 in the use ofthe holder with the collar E1 installed therein. The ratio of admittedair to smoke passing through the passage in the subsequent -use of theholder with the lsucceeding collars E2. E3, E4 is increased successivelyas each successive collar is used, but each succeeding ratio bears arelationship to the initial ratio (in the use of collar E1) which issuch that in the final stage, using collar E4, the smoker still derivesthe sensation of smoking although with such a nearly complete absence oftars that the habit-sustaining element of the smoke is in that stage soattenuated that its control over the smoker is eliminated.

It is important that the cooling air is admitted to the smoke streambefore the latter is accelerated in the passage 31, wherebyprecipitation of tar will occur as it is discharged from the restrictedpassage 31 as a high speed jet into cross bore 32. The cooling effect ofthe admitted air will bring the smoke to a temperature, when dischargedfrom the passage 31, such that tar is condensed and will be precipatedas the velocity of the air stream drops subsequent to leaving passage31.

While the relationship between air inlets and passage 31 is important,the specific design and arrangement of the passage and the surface onwhich the tar is deposited, may be varied without departing from theprinciples of the invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, thepassage 31' may discharge its jet against a flat circular forward endsurface of a barrier head 45,*,the end surface being in closely-spaced,axially-opposed relation to a fiat rear end surface of a core C1 so asto define therewith a thin disc-shaped passage 46 extending radially inall directions from the rear end of the passage 31. Passage 46 has anaxial spacing from core C1 of about 1/32". Head 45, instead of being anintegral part of the core, is a separate part having a tail 47 which islongitudinally grooved to provide a series of circumferentially spacedsmoke passages 48 (FIG. 7) connecting the tar collection chamber 26 tothe passage within a stem 49. Barrel B1 comprises a plain cylindricalsleeve 50 in Iwhich is snugly fitted the forward end of stem 49, whichin turn snugly receives the tail 47 so as to support the head 4S. Otherparts in FIG. 6 are the same as in FIG. 1 as indicated by the use ofcorresponding numerals. i

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a variation of the structure shown in FIG. 6wherein the forward end of head 45 is provided with a diametral V-groovein opposed relation to passage 31', the remainder of the apparatus beingthe same as in FIG. 6. Substantially the same structure is shown in FIG.l0, the only difference being in the groove 56 (in lieu of groove 55)which is of rectangular instead of V section.

FIG. 11 discloses another modified form of the invention, wherein thecore C2, instea'd of being cup-shaped, comprises a collar 60 into whichis projected a cylindrical tip 61. The forward end of tip V61 isbevelled at 62, and is disposed just to the rear of the plane of controlcollars E, etc. An annular cylindrical passage 63 is defined between thelateral wall of tip 61 and the internal wall of collar 60, the spacingbetween these Walls being about .0035". A flat annular space 64 isdefined between axially-opposed end faces of collar 60 and of head 45,the latter end face being an annular radial shoulder 65. The remainderof the apparatus of FIG. 11 is the same as in FIG. 6, as indicated bythe same numerals. Space 64 has an axial depth in the range of 3&2" toSmoke Striking the bevelled forward end face 62 of tip 61 is deflectedradially against the internal wall of collar 60, causing some tarprecipitation. It then passes through the thin annular passage 63 andimpinges against shoulder 65, where additional tar is precipitated,draining into collection chamber 26.

We claim:

1. In a kit for use by a smoker for withdrawal from the smoking habit, atubular draft device including at one end a receptacle through whichsmoke may be drawn from a body of burning tobacco; a barrel having amouthpiece stem at the other end of the device; a core mounted in saidbarrel and having at one end means projecting into said receptacle andreleasably supporting the same, said core embodying tar-removal means;and a plurality of control collars replaceably insertable between saidreceptacle and said barrel, said collars having radial air inletorifices for the admission of cooling air into the smoke streamtravelling from said receptacle into said tar-removal means, forcondensing the tarin the smoke screen, the orifices in each successivecontrol collar being greater in number than in the previous collar,whereby to effect successive increase of tar condensation with the useof each successive collar, said releasable receptaclesupporting meanscomprising a plurality of circumferentially-spaced fingers definingbetween them slots with which said orifices are registered when thecollars are installed. A

2. A withdrawal kit as defined in clairn 1, wherein said 2,944,554 7/1960 Marguleas 131-198 core has a radial liange interposed between theinstalled 2,951,486 9/ 1960 Walters 131-198 collar and the adjacent endof said barrel. 2,954,772 10/ 1960 Lebert 131-201 X 3. A withdrawal kitas dened in claim 2, wherein said 2,967,528 1/ 1961 Kelter 131-198fingers extend through the installed control collar and 5 3,116,741 1/1964 Speck 131-198 X are fitted snugly therewithin to support the collarin con- 3,265,074 8/ 1966 Davis 131-198 centric and peripherally ilushrelation to the receptacle 3,289,678 12/1966 Fassbender 131-198 andbaffel FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited 1,027,901 2/ 1953 France.

1() UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,240,083 7/ 1960 France.

1,908,878 5/ 1933 Abrams 131--201 JOSEPH S. REICH, Primary Examiner.2,024,865 12/1935 McArdle 131--198

